Sam Konstas has opened up on his much-talked-about altercation with India star Jasprit Bumrah during the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground last week.
Facing some of the biggest superstars of the game such as Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah could be intimidating for any player, especially for a 19-year-old making his debut. However, Sam Konstas showed that he is not your usual 19-year-old as he rose to the occasion.
After becoming the youngest batsman to open the innings for Australia in Tests, the right-handed batsman stunned the cricketing world by smashing a quickfire fifty. He took Jasprit Bumrah to the cleaners as he scored 60 runs off 65 balls in his first-ever Test outing.
However, the focus soon shifted from Sam Konstas’ knock to his altercations with Indian players, especially Kohli and Bumrah. During the Melbourne Test, he was shouldered by Kohli before being involved in a verbal war with Bumrah during the fifth Test.
Towards the end of the second day, Konstas decided to get under Bumrah’s skin. As the India pace spearhead was gearing up to deliver the ball, Konstas, while standing at the non-striker’s end, said something to the bowler.
Bumrah, who rarely loses his cool on the field, did not look pleased at all and charged towards Konstas while saying something in a dramatic fashion. The umpire was then quick to intervene and brought the situation under control. The India star had the last laugh as he dismissed Usman Khawaja on the very next ball before turning towards Konstas and giving him a death stare.
Sam Konstas on altercation with Jasprit Bumrah:
Even though it was Sam Konstas who started it all in the Sydney Test, Jasprit Bumrah has been facing criticism from several quarters. Many have opined that the senior pacer should have ignored the youngster. However, the Australian youngster has now admitted that it was his fault.
Konstas also admitted that Khawaja was deliberately wasting time before crediting Bumrah for taking the wicket.
“Oh, I didn’t get too fazed. Unfortunately, Uzi got out. He was trying to buy some time a little bit. It was probably my fault, but it happens. It’s cricket. Credit to Bumrah. He got the wicket, but obviously great performance from the team,” Sam Konstas told Triple M.
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Meanwhile, Australia clinched the five-match series 3-1 to end their decade-long wait for a series win over India. They had not won a Test series against India since the 2014/15 season. The thumping victory has also helped them book a place in the World Test Championship final for the second time in a row.
They will be facing South Africa in the final, set to take place in June this year. Before that, Australia are also set to play two more Tests in the ongoing WTC cycle. They will be facing Sri Lanka in their last assignment of the ongoing cycle.